Raila slams Ruto Gov't over failure to disburse school funding

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has hit out at the President William Ruto-led government over the alleged failure to disburse all the funds meant for learners in public schools.

Mr. Odinga, in a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, was responding to President Ruto’s New Year address in which he claimed that his administration had increased education funding.

The opposition boss termed the Head of State’s remarks as a bold-faced lie, especially coming just a week before learning is set to formally resume in schools across the country.

According to Mr. Odinga, the government disbursed Ksh.64,421,850,160.01 to secondary schools for third term in the 2022/2023 financial year against an initial set figure of Ksh82, 088,723,744 for the 3,690,376 learners.

This, he said, now leaves a deficit of Ksh.17,666,873,584 owed to the institutions, leaving the fate of 794,231 students in limbo.

He went ahead to add that, in the 2023/2024 financial year, the Kenya Kwanza government has so far released only Ksh.3,327.87 per child instead of the Ksh.22, 244 set by the previous administration in 2018.

“Ruto owes secondary schools a total of Ksh.69,807,632,165. It is not even clear whether the paltry 14 per cent said to have been disbursed has actually been discharged. There is a big disconnect between what the government says and what is actually implemented,” he stated.

“It is not true that the Kenya Kwanza administration has enhanced any funding for free education. To ensure that every Kenyan child has a right to access free and compulsory basic education and that all students in secondary school are funded to complete their basic education, the government of Kenya began the Free Day Secondary Education programme in 2008, with the granting of capitation per learner.”

He added: “As schools await opening, most parents are struggling with the reality of increased school fees of between Ksh.40,000 and Ksh.90,000 in the fee structures they have received from government secondary schools. The school fees bill is way beyond the reach of most parents.”

Mr. Odinga added that while government officials continue to globetrot and showcase their opulence online, public school staff are wallowing in low pay, overcrowded classes and lack of resources; a situation that is likely to also affect learners.

The Azimio pointman termed the failure by the administration to disburse education funding as the result of “corruption and deliberate and harmful political choices,” further questioning the criteria behind prioritizing the affordable housing project at the expense of children’s future.

He now wants the pending monies to be released forthwith, also urging parents, teachers, and school boards of management to demand the full disbursement of the education allocation.

“We appeal to religious leaders and civil society organizations to take up the cause of our children, call out the Kenya Kwanza administration and force it to fund the future by paying school fees,” he said.

“I instruct our members of parliament and county assemblies to prioritize basic and higher education spending. Our legislators must embark on active steps to force the government to release public education funding, both at the Primary and secondary levels before schools resume. Money must reach schools ahead of Monday.”